Product description

Amos the mouse and Boris the whale: a devoted pair of friends with nothing at all in common, except good hearts and a willingness to help their fellow mammal. They meet after Amos sets out to sail the sea and finds himself in extreme need of rescue. And there will come a day, long after Boris has gone back to a life at sea and Amos has gone back to life on dry land, when the tiny mouse must find a way to rescue the great whale. "Amos & Boris" is a 1971 New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Book of the Year, Notable Children's Book of the Year, and Outstanding Book of the Year.

Author information

William Steig (1907-2003) was a cartoonist, illustrator and author of award-winning books for children, including "Shrek!, " on which the DreamWorks movies are based. Steig was born in New York City. Every member of his family was involved in the arts, and so it was no surprise when he decided to become an artist. He attended City College and the National Academy of Design. In 1930, Steig's work began appearing in "The New Yorker," where his drawings have been a popular fixture ever since. He published his first children's book, "Roland the Minstrel Pig," in 1968. In 1970, Steig received the Caldecott Medal for "Sylvester and the Magic Pebble." His books for children also include "Dominic"; "The Real Thief"; "The Amazing Bone," a Caldecott Honor Book; "Amos & Boris," a National Book Award finalist; and "Abel's Island" and "Doctor De Soto," both Newbery Honor Books. Steig's books have also received the Christopher Award, the Irma Simonton Black Award, the William Allen White Children's Book Award, and the American Book Award. His European awards include the Premio di Letteratura per l'infanzia (Italy), the Silver Pencil Award (the Netherlands), and the Prix de la Fondation de France. On the basis of his entire body of work, Steig was selected as the 1982 U.S. candidate for the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for Illustration and subsequently as the 1988 U.S. candidate for Writing. Stieg also published thirteen collections of drawings for adults, beginning with "About People" in 1939, and including "The Lonely Ones," "Male/Female," "The Agony in the Kindergarten," and "Our Miserable Life." He died in Boston at the age of 95.

Review quote

"There is no question that Steig's affectionately witty pictures and perfectly complementary narration make this a durable picture book friendship."--"Kirkus Reviews"
"The book is funny and earnest, pellucid and profound."--"The New York Times Book Review"
* "A simple, matter-of-fact story about the friendship between a mouse and a whale. . . . Lovely watercolor pictures and a funny, well-written text which presents its plot coincidences in tongue-in-cheek manner fit together admirably in this faintly Aesopian tale."--"School Library Journal", Starred Review